A music hall song by Harry Clifton.


THE FAMILY MAN
   "A Respectable Family Man"
   Words and music by Harry Clifton. [1867]
   Arranged by Martin Hobson.
   "Tempo di valse."

[1] I've heard 'tis a folly to fret and to sigh,
For days that are past and for pleasures gone by
But I feel melancholy and cannot tell why!
   When the days of my boyhood I scan.
I once was considered a dashing young beau,
And quite an Adonis from top to the toe,
But there it's a different case you must know,
   Since I've been a family man.

        Chorus.
   I once was considered a dashing young beau,
   Could waltz with Maria, or Polka with Flo'
   But now it's a different case you must know,
   Since I've been a Family Man.

2. I was always invited to Party or Ball,
And ne'er was in want of a partner at all,
An Ice I could offer or, wrap on a shawl,
   With the grace of an elegant man.
My hand it was shaken by jolly Papas,
With smiles I was greeted by anxious Mammas,
But now with a nod, they allow me to pass,
   Alas! I'm a Family Man.

3. I meet an old friend and his kindness to show,
Will say, "My dear Fellow to day you must go,
And dine at the Club." I'm obliged to say "no"
Because I'm a Family man.
I make an excuse at that I'm "au fait"
And promise to meet him on some other day,
His face seems to say, as I saunter away,
"I see you're a Family Man."

4. If I travel by rail, I am asked to take care,
Of five or six daughters, whose parents declare,
They are sure to be safe in my charge, it is fair,
   Because I'm a Family Man.
My journey concluded, I'm running around,
In search of their parcels, that cannot be found,
The questions they ask it's enough to confound
   Any one but a Family man.

5. But I wouldn't change mine for a Bachelor's fate,
So happy am I with my Conjugal Mate,
With my Benedict's Home and my double estate,
   So marry as soon as you can.
You'll find you'll have some one your troubles to share,
To lighten your burden of sorrow and care,
And spend all the money that you have to spare,
   If once you're a Family Man.

Source: Period sheet music published by Lee & Walker, Philadelphia. 8787.6.
Sheet music can be seen at The Levy Collection at Johns Hopkins University


ABC transcription of the melody:

X: 1
T: The Family Man
T: "A Respectable Family Man"
C: Words and music by Harry Clifton.
N: Arranged by Martin Hobson.
S: Period sheet music published by Lee & Walker, Philadelphia. 8787.6.
Z: by Artful Codger
%%MIDI program 1 69
M: 3/4
L: 1/4
Q: 1/4=140
K: C
%
%    Verse.
C | EE>E | DCD | EG>G | G2 G | AA>A |
w: I've heard 'tis a fol-ly to fret and to sigh, For days that are
ABc | ee>e | d2 d/ d/ | dd>d | cBA |
w: past and for plea-sures gone by But I feel me-lan-cho-ly and
cc>c | E2 E/ E/ | FFF | GD>E | C3- | CzE |
w: can-not tell why! When the days of my boy-hood I scan._ I
DD>D | DE^F | GB>B | B2 B | EE>E |
w: once was con-si-dered a dash-ing young beau, And quite an A-
D^F^G | Ac>c | c2 A | ^FF>F | ^FGA |
w: do-nis from top to the toe, But there it's a dif-fe-rent
BGE | E2 E | D^CD | ^FB>A | G3- | G2 ||
w: case you must know, Since I've been a fa-mi-ly man._
%
%    Chorus.
F | EE>E | DCD | EG>G | G2 G | AA>A |
w: I once was con-si-dered a dash-ing young beau, Could waltz with Ma-
ABc | dd>d | d2 d | dd>d | cBA |
w: ri-a, or Pol-ka with Flo' But now it's a dif-fe-rent
cc>c | E2 E/ E/ | F2 F | GD>E | C3- | C z x ||
w: case you must know, Since I've been a Fa-mi-ly Man.


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